Don The Stat – Details, episodes & analysis

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Don The Stat

donthestat

Sports

Frequency: 1 episode/3d. Total Eps: 100

Don the Stat is a weekly podcast covering the Essendon Football Club. Former Essendon Football Club analyst Jonathan Walsh is joined by fellow Essendon fan Ian Hume to break down the previous weeks game and preview the tactics of the next match. We focus on a more analytical approach that considers the statistics and match day tactics that will impact each game.

Visit donthestat.com for the official home of Don The Stat.

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https://www.x.com/JonathanJWalsh
64 shares
https://www.x.com//Kyptastic1
64 shares

https://www.donthestat.com/
96 shares
https://readingtheplay.wordpress.com/
2 shares
https://readingtheplay.wordpress.com/2026/04/08/hold-the-line/
2 shares

https://www.patreon.com/donthestat
99 shares
https://www.patreon.com/cw/RickEdwards
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Bombers Mid-Season Patron Q&A | Rebuild Reality, Coaching Candidates & Draft Dreams

Episode 362

Thursday, June 18, 2026 • Duration 01:10:57

The Don The Stat Patreon community takes centre stage in our annual Mid-Season Q&A Special!

With Essendon sitting at a crossroads in 2026, Ian Hume and Jonathan Walsh tackle a huge range of supporter questions covering the biggest issues facing the club.

🔴 Is there anything positive to take from the season so far? ⚫ Who should coach Essendon in 2027 – James Hird, James Kelly or John Longmire? 🔴 Can fans trust the club to make the right decision this time? ⚫ What should Essendon's list strategy be over the next two years? 🔴 Which experienced players should the Bombers target through free agency? ⚫ Who has actually improved this season? 🔴 What's the ideal midfield mix moving forward? ⚫ What does the future hold for Elijah Tsatas? 🔴 Should Essendon take Harry Van Hattum or Akay Barker at the top of the draft?

Plus plenty more discussion on the rebuild, player development, culture, leadership, draft strategy and where the Bombers go from here.

A huge thank you to all our Patreon members who submitted questions and joined us live for another fantastic Q&A session.

#DonTheStat #EssendonFC #AFL

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Watch 'The Moment that Mattered' and listen to our Post Match First Thoughts exclusively on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/donthestat

Don The Stat Website: https://www.donthestat.com/

Jono at twitter.com/JonathanJWalsh / https://bsky.app/profile/jonathanjwalsh.bsky.social

Ian at twitter.com/Kyptastic1 / https://bsky.app/profile/kyptastic.bsky.social

Don The Stat Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/donthestat

Follow Don The Stat on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/donthestat?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

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Stay the Course or Start Again? Tommy Wolfe on Essendon's Future

Episode 361

Sunday, June 14, 2026 • Duration 01:11:19

Is Essendon still on the right path, or has the club blinked at a critical moment in its rebuild?

This week on Don The Stat, Ian is joined by Tommy Wolfe from Reading The Play (https://readingtheplay.wordpress.com/) for a deep dive into the Bombers' future following the shock departure of Brad Scott.

Tommy discusses why he believes Essendon is still two strong drafts away from completing its talent base, where the Bombers sit compared to successful rebuilds such as Melbourne and Fremantle, and whether it's possible to sack a coach without abandoning a long-term vision.

The conversation also explores:

🔴 Was Brad Scott the right coach at the wrong time? ⚫ How many more years should Essendon prioritise the draft? 🔴 The risks and rewards of chasing quick improvement through trades and free agency ⚫ Why some rebuilds succeed while others become stuck in AFL's middle ground 🔴 The growing momentum behind James Hird's coaching candidacy ⚫ Essendon's dream 2026 draft and trade period 🔴 The impact of Tasmania's arrival on list management ⚫ What Tommy would change about AFL drafting, free agency and list rules

Plus, Tommy shares his journey with Reading The Play, his favourite Essendon memories, and why he believes the Bombers must avoid repeating the mistakes of "old Essendon."

If you're interested in list building, recruiting, AFL strategy, and where Essendon's rebuild goes from here, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

🎙️ Listen now and join the conversation.

___

Watch 'The Moment that Mattered' and listen to our Post Match First Thoughts exclusively on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/donthestat

Don The Stat Website: https://www.donthestat.com/

Jono at twitter.com/JonathanJWalsh / https://bsky.app/profile/jonathanjwalsh.bsky.social

Round 14, 2026: Can the Bombers Repeat the Gather Round Formula?

Episode 360

Thursday, June 11, 2026 • Duration 55:57

Essendon heads to the MCG to face a Melbourne side that has transformed into one of the competition's most dangerous teams since the Bombers upset them during Gather Round.

With Jono away in England, Ian is joined by long-time Don The Stat patron and tactical analyst Josh Wilson to break down Essendon's loss to Carlton, assess the early signs of the Dean Solomon era, and preview a massive challenge against the Demons.

🔴 Topics include:

What Essendon did right at centre bounce against Carlton
Why the Bombers continue to struggle with inside 50 connection
Ben McKay's surprising impact as a forward
Zach Merrett's move to half-back and whether it works
The emergence of Nick Bryan and Sullivan Robey
What's changed under Dean Solomon?
Injury updates and the cavalry arriving after the bye
Melbourne's rise into the top five
Nick Bryan's biggest test yet against Max Gawn
How Essendon can repeat the formula that worked in Gather Round
Key match-ups and tactical battles to watch

Plus, Ian and Josh discuss the future direction of the club, the continued development of Essendon's young core, and what success should look like for the remainder of the 2026 season.

📊 Don't forget to check out this week's Draft Rankings special with Rick Edwards and keep an eye out for Sunday's coaching and club direction discussion with Tommy Wolfe from Reading The Play.

🎙️ Like, subscribe and join the conversation.

#AFL #EssendonFC #DonTheStat

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Watch 'The Moment that Mattered' and listen to our Post Match First Thoughts exclusively on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/donthestat

Don The Stat Website: https://www.donthestat.com/

Jono at twitter.com/JonathanJWalsh / https://bsky.app/profile/jonathanjwalsh.bsky.social

Essendon’s Rebuild Starts Here | Rick Edwards’ June 2026 Top 20 Draft Rankings

Episode 359

Monday, June 8, 2026 • Duration 47:12

Support Rick at his Patreon here - https://www.patreon.com/cw/RickEdwards

With Essendon's 2026 season spiralling and the AFL Draft becoming the major source of optimism for Bombers fans, we welcome back one of the most respected talent watchers in the Essendon community — Rick Edwards.

In this special Don The Stat episode, Rick reveals his exclusive Mid-Season Top 20 AFL Draft Rankings and breaks down the players every Essendon supporter should be watching ahead of the National Championships.

We discuss:

🏆 The state of Essendon's season and whether Brad Scott's sacking was the right call

🏆 James Hird's coaching prospects and what the Bombers should prioritise in their rebuild

🏆 Why Harry Van Hattum is currently Rick's No.1 prospect

🏆 Arki Butler, Ethan Drever, Kodah Edwards, Harvie Cook and the other elite talents climbing draft boards

🏆 Who Essendon could target with multiple early selections

🏆 The latest on NGA prospects Justice, Bewick, Jed Naim, Darwish and Rodan

🏆 Rick's experience watching the Vic Metro vs Vic Country trial match

🏆 The players who could rise rapidly during the National Championships

If you're already looking ahead to the future of the Essendon Football Club, this is the draft episode you've been waiting for.

Don't forget to check out Rick's Patreon for exclusive training reports, vision and draft analysis, and follow him on X at @BomberRicko.

🔴⚫ #GoDons

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Watch 'The Moment that Mattered' and listen to our Post Match First Thoughts exclusively on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/donthestat

Round 13, 2026: Essendon v Carlton Preview | Rivalry Night, AFL Assistance & Can Solomon Spark a Response?

Episode 358

Thursday, June 4, 2026 • Duration 01:04:08

Stubby Holder Form - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdRJGhBVEqDn7pywRvnDCnybyQR8vvoeMoIaoIGa0QDx7hT0A/viewform?usp=dialog

Essendon and Carlton. The ladder might say one thing, but this rivalry always means something.

This week on Don The Stat, Jono and Humey review Dean Solomon's first game as interim coach following the Bombers' disappointing loss to West Coast and examine what, if anything, changed on-field.

The boys dive into:

The clearance dominance that failed to translate into scoreboard pressure
Nick Bryan's emergence as a genuine AFL ruckman
The departures of Ben Jacobs and Ben Robbins
Another brutal injury update involving Archie May and Lewis Hayes
Essendon's request for AFL assistance and what support could look like
Whether key defence has suddenly become a list priority
Carlton's resurgence under Josh Fraser
The Blues' dangerous centre bounce game and how Essendon can combat it
Selection dilemmas ahead of a huge Sunday night clash at the MCG

Plus, the Damian Barrett Lifetime Achievement Award returns and an obscure stat about identical twins rucking against each other.

All that and plenty more in another big edition of Don The Stat.

Go Dons. 🔴⚫️🏉

____

Watch 'The Moment that Mattered' and listen to our Post Match First Thoughts exclusively on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/donthestat

Don The Stat Website: https://www.donthestat.com/

Jono at twitter.com/JonathanJWalsh / https://bsky.app/profile/jonathanjwalsh.bsky.social

Ian at twitter.com/Kyptastic1 / https://bsky.app/profile/kyptastic.bsky.social

Round 12, 2026: Essendon drama, Solomon Takes Over

Episode 357

Thursday, May 28, 2026 • Duration 01:08:06

It has been one of the biggest weeks in recent Essendon history.

After another injury-hit loss, this time to Richmond in Dreamtime at the ‘G, the Bombers sit 1-10 and anchored to the bottom of the AFL ladder. The fallout only intensified with the sacking of Brad Scott, another wave of media scrutiny, and Dean Solomon stepping in as interim coach.

On this week’s Don The Stat Match Preview, Jono and Ian reflect on an emotional and draining week for the Essendon community, the deeper meaning behind supporting the club, and what comes next for the Bombers.

The boys break down:

The decision to move on from Brad Scott
Whether Essendon’s long-term strategy can survive another coaching change
The resilience shown in the Richmond loss despite more injuries
Darcy Parish’s enormous Dreamtime performance
Kane Cornes earning a Barrett Award nomination
Mid-season draftee Jaxon Artemis and what he adds to the list
West Coast’s improvement in 2026 and the challenge awaiting in Perth
The tactical and structural changes fans want to see under Dean Solomon

There’s also discussion around Essendon’s youth movement, list build, clearance struggles, Harley Reid, Bailey Williams, Jake Waterman and how the Bombers can respond after one of the toughest weeks the club has faced in years.

A reflective, emotional and analytical episode from the Don The Stat team.

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Watch 'The Moment that Mattered' and listen to our Post Match First Thoughts exclusively on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/donthestat

Don The Stat Website: https://www.donthestat.com/

Jono at twitter.com/JonathanJWalsh / https://bsky.app/profile/jonathanjwalsh.bsky.social

Ian at twitter.com/Kyptastic1 / https://bsky.app/profile/kyptastic.bsky.social

Ian reacts to Brad Scott's Sacking

Episode 356

Tuesday, May 26, 2026 • Duration 32:08

This was recorded on Patreon live earlier this evening. Ian gives his reaction to Brad Scott's sacking and interacts with Patrons.

Jono will give his thoughts on our main show this Thursday

Don The Stat – Details, episodes & analysis

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Don The Stat – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

X2

Other7

Patreon2

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

X2

Other7

Patreon2